Chapter 9: Dimensional Invaders  

Kang Chuli  and Yoo Hani stepped out for a moment.  

They said it was for the bathroom or a smoke, but their real aim was probably to find some middle ground between them.  

“How much will they offer?”  

The current imported wheat price is 300 dollars per ton.  

Considering it was 264 dollars per ton in peacetime, that’s a significant rise.  

But it’s clear the price will skyrocket even more.  

Given that—  

“We’ll buy Ribbon Corporation’s wheat. At 290 dollars per ton.”  

“In exchange, we’d like a special clause giving us priority purchasing rights for Ribbon Corporation’s wheat.”  

“Of course, we’ll cover the shipping costs. How about it?”  

290 dollars per ton.  

In terms of profit, that’s about 440,000 dollars a month.  

In Korean won, that’s around 59 million won.  

And I have no costs going out here.  

The only fixed expense is the warehouse rent.  

Essentially, that 59 million won is pure profit.  

If that money just drops into my account while I breathe, that’s not bad at all.  

But.  

“That won’t work.”  

“…What?”  

“I can’t do 290 dollars.”  

When I cut them off firmly, Kang Chuli  blinked in surprise.  

“Wait, you said 90% of our lowest import price before. Are you changing your tune now?”  

“That was right at the time. But that was then.”  

Market prices are determined where supply meets demand.  

And right now, demand is more desperate, so it’s common sense for the supply price to rise.  

“You two need my wheat badly, so why should I sell at that price?”  

“Y-You…”  

Kang Chuli  looked ready to explode, but he quickly composed himself.  

He already knew picking a fight wouldn’t help.  

Yoo Hani asked calmly,  

“Then what price do you have in mind, President Kang?”  

“Hmm.”  

I pretended to calculate, toying with their anticipation.  

I’d already decided on the number, but these little acts pressure their psyche.  

These subtle pressures give a slight edge in negotiations, no doubt.  

I downed the glass of liquor in front of me and said,  

“380 dollars.”  

“W-What?”  

“You’re raising it nearly 80% from the current price?”  

“Yes, after calculating, that’s what I need to make a profit.”  

The two presidents shook their heads as if it was absurd.  

But neither said they wouldn’t deal.  

If they refused, their clients would all bail, cutting off their revenue stream.  

They had no choice but to swallow it.  

“Damn, President Kang, you do business ruthlessly.”  

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”  

“Tch!”  

Kang Chuli  poured soju straight into his glass and downed it.  

Yeah, he must be burning up inside.  

But I felt the need to offer another carrot.  

Even as the one in power, squeezing the underdog too hard means they won’t roll your way when it counts.  

“I’ll tell you upfront—this price benefits you too.”  

“80% higher than now—how is that a benefit?”  

“Because buying from me avoids the inevitable shipping fees and tariffs from imports.”  

They must’ve calculated this too.  

But not the exact figures.  

That requires punching numbers into a calculator.  

But I can do it in my head.  

“You’re getting wheat about 2.3% cheaper than from your current suppliers.”  

“2.3% might seem small, but in scale, it’s significant, right?”  

In inter-company deals, 0.1% can mean hundreds or thousands swinging.  

For them, 2.3% is something to be thankful for.  

“This isn’t an exact calculation. I don’t know your full situation—just rough numbers.”  

“Ahem…”  

Kang Chuli  stealthily pulled out a calculator.  

These days, phones do it fine, but carrying an old-school calculator—classic old-timer.  

Yoo Hani checked the calculations beside him and let out a hollow laugh.  

“…Sigh, President Kang. You were Spectrum’s CEO, right?”  

“Former CEO.”  

“Your negotiation skills are no joke.”  

“To get what I want, I need to know what you want. Like this skate fish.”  

“Ha, hahaha. Yeah, sure.”  

Yoo Hani picked up a piece of skate fish.  

After chewing a few times, he shook his head.  

“Skate fish is quite the delicacy. But there must be tastier things out there.”  

“The world’s full of things to eat.”  

“Next time, tell us what you like, and we’ll treat you to that.”  

“Even scorpion skewers?”  

“If that’s what the other side wants, you eat it. That’s sales, right?”  

Yoo Hani decided to shake my hand.  

And Kang Chuli ?  

“Damn it, President Kang, if you mess with our clients again, I won’t let it slide.”  

“Just make sure that doesn’t happen.”  

“Tch. Let’s deal.”  

The two milling companies finally took my hand.  

From the position of the underdog, not the boss.  

***

Back home, I loosened my tie.  

It felt strange being in a setting like that after so long.  

“Got it done.”  

I looked at the two contracts in my hand.  

Contracts to supply wheat at 380 dollars per ton.  

With a special clause for priority purchasing rights, but that doesn’t matter.  

I have no plans to supply to anyone else but these two.  

“The profit from selling wheat ends here.”  

From the start, this was just to secure initial capital.  

Having a solid cash cow would give me leeway for future moves.  

Of course, I can’t rest on this.  

“Even if wheat prices skyrocket, they’ll eventually normalize.”  

Wars don’t last forever.  

They end eventually.  

It could end quickly if Russia’s strategy works, or drag on if Ukraine holds out.  

Either way, wheat prices will return.  

“I need to expand the business before then.”  

There are two main ways to expand now.  

Broaden wheat sales channels or prepare businesses related to wheat.  

I need the latter.  

“Broadening sales means dealing with big corporations, but I’m outmatched in scale right now.”  

Dealing with them now would make me the under-underdog, exploited for wheat.  

Expanding there for pennies is the worst move.  

Avoiding the worst leaves—  

“Time to prepare for acquisitions.”  

From my initial research, some small milling companies share the minor pie.  

I plan to acquire one of them.  

“Acquiring them and producing flour directly doubles the profit.”  

Naturally, selling flour yields more than selling wheat.  

If I teach the Tinyfolk flour milling, I could just sell it myself.  

But making them build mills from descriptions alone is near impossible.  

Imparting construction technology is an option, but that consumes human resources heavily.  

“Like with watermills.”  

The Tinyfolk’s human resources should focus on their growth.  

I’ll just take the byproducts from that process.  

“Well, sorry to Gangi Milling and Yuseong Milling.”  

I plan to devour the “others” slice of the milling industry pie.  

Every last bit.  

“Time left until then.”  

Just three months.  

[An anomaly has occurred in the dimension.]  

[Adjusting the dimension’s time ratio.]  

[Calling the dimension’s master.]  

*** 

The urgent alert pounding in my ears forced my eyes open.  

“What the hell.”  

I’d checked the time—I’d only lain down two hours ago after sorting the contracts.  

As I struggled to shake off the fog, the system displayed another message.  

[The Tinyfolk’s second city is under enemy attack.]  

“…What?”  

This is insane.  

“Explain in detail.”  

[Initiating dimension observation.]  

The map expanded before my eyes.  

Centered on the second city built by the Tinyfolk pioneers.  

The city, dotted with humble huts, was burning from the outskirts.  

“What the hell is going on.”  

[Approximately one hour ago in dimension time, a group of enemies emerged from the forest near the second city.]  

“Enemies? Are there other races besides the Tinyfolk in this dimension?”  

[The only surviving sentient beings are the Tinyfolk.]  

“Then what are you talking about! Speak clearly!”  

When I yelled, the system zoomed in on the map.  

There was a race completely different from the Tinyfolk.  

Pale skin, bodies like average adult males.  

They could pass for humans, but with distinct features.  

Fangs protruding from their mouths and elongated ears.  

[Analyzing the race.]  

[Analysis complete.]  

[Analysis results.]  

[Estimated to be entities from another dimension.]  

Another dimension.  

I hadn’t heard of this.  

“System, are there more than one dimension?”  

[The number of dimensions is infinite.]  

“…And they can cross between dimensions?”  

[This is called a dimension collision phenomenon. It allows travel to other dimensions. This is included in the Apostle’s powers.]  

This is nuts.  

I rubbed my face dryly and organized what needed to be done.  

“More on dimensions later. Focus on these invaders first.”  

How to stop these invaders.  

“What’s the current time ratio?”  

[It has been adjusted to the minimum value.]  

“That’s why it’s barely moving.”  

No wonder the invasion scene felt so static—the system had adjusted the ratio.  

Knowing I had time gave me some breathing room.  

And I calmly assessed the enemies.  

“System, how many invaders are there?”  

[A total of 138 confirmed.]  

[They are divided into two classes: warriors with clubs and polished stone axes, and archers with bows.]  

“Our forces in the second city?”  

[No professionally trained military forces.]  

[The number of hunters with hunting training is 80.]  

I’d thought war was a distant tale.  

So I hadn’t invested much in building a military.  

I never expected this.  

“We’ll have to face them with the hunters.”  

[The victory probability is 76%.]  

“Higher than I thought?”  

[Their armament level is low, and their bows and archery are crude.]  

The bows crafted with the Tinyfolk’s superior dexterity, and their archery skills, outclass them.  

Though shaken by the surprise attack.  

“We can win.”  

[That is correct.]  

“Then let’s do it. System.”  

[Awaiting command.]  

“Issue instructions to all hunters in the second city.”  

[Each instruction costs 10,000 won.]  

“With the money I earned, let’s use it properly.”  

I confirmed the hunters’ positions, numbers, and armaments through dimension observation and said,  

“Crush them all, leave none alive.”